Harvestman ID please

[Deer Stalker]

Found in woodland in the New Forest

Body length roughly 5mm



Cheers

[Geoff F]

So that would make the second legs around 30 mm?

Do you have any other angles or a close up of the head area?

Offhand, I am tempted to consider a poorly marked Opilio saxatilis but I would like to see more details and a view which includes part of the underside would be useful.

But somehow, I think I will have to hand this one over to an expert.

[Deer Stalker]

Originally Posted by Geoff F

So that would make the second legs around 30 mm?

Do you have any other angles or a close up of the head area?

Offhand, I am tempted to consider a poorly marked Opilio saxatilis but I would like to see more details and a view which includes part of the underside would be useful.

But somehow, I think I will have to hand this one over to an expert.

Roughly yes.

This was my only pic I'm afraid.

[Geoff F]

In that case, it doesn't look right for a Leiobunum and it is a bit late for Rilaena triangularis (doubtful ID anyway) so the only other suggestion would be a poorly marked female Phalangium opilio.

So, until a better informed person appears, I will stick with my original idea. But without being able to see a really close up view of some different angles this is just a guess.

[Deer Stalker]

Probably wont help, but a close up of same pic. How many species of Harvestman do we have in Britain?

[Geoff F]

There are around 25 UK species but some of those are very distinctive or confined to specific locations.

I would say that this specimen belongs to the Phalangiidae family which has 14 members, approx, although a few of these are quite distinctive or localised.

Then there are the short legged species of this family with legs less than 20 mm long. The second legs are the most accurate to measure.

Most of them have a distinctive 'saddle' of dark markings on their backs; but pale poor marked specimens are quite common, which is possible in this case.

The position of spines, particularly around the 'nose' can greatly help with identification. Some species have a distinctive arrangement of trident like spines here, but it does need a really good view from top and side view before this can become a confirmed ID item.

A really good view of the 'palps', short leg like features in front of the mouth area, can also confirm an identification. Phalangium opilio males have particularly long palps and the chelicerae, between the palps, have an enormous horn like shape which makes them easy to identify.

I may have simplified things a bit here, but the basics are included.

The rather wide ocularium (eye turret) on your specimen, without any black markings and apparently with only small spines should be distinctive but I can't quite fully place it in the correct category.

Also note the red mite which has attached to a leg joint. These are quite commonly found on harvestmen.

But I am just attempting to learn about harvestmen and rely on Gordon for better information and identification. Hopefully, he might see this post and impart some of his wisdom.